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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Mugging at the Petworth Metro

From the Petworth listserv: "My housemate was brutally beaten by a gang of 8 young men who followedhim out of the Petworth metro Friday evening at 10PM. They followedhim up New Hampshire Ave heading NE until they got into the shadow ofthe trees. He was beaten unconscious and has several staples andstiches. I'm very grateful that he's alive. Given the way he wasinjured it easily could have not turned out that way."

Council Member Bowser responds: "I'm very sorry to hear about this incident. I am copying Commander Burton to have him increase officers and patrols in the area around the Petworth Metro station and the adjoining neighborhoods with specific attention in the later evening hours. The community's continued vigilance is important and we will follow this case closely."

My two cents: This is a tragic occurance and I wish the victim a speedy recovery. I still feel that these incidents, thankfully, are rare. But please be careful and use good street smarts - pay attention to your surroundings, don't talk on a cell phone while you walk late at night and don't listen to your ipod. Having said that, no amount of street smarts can always prevent an incident like this. So hopefully, we will get more MPD patrols as well.

I received the same canned response from the officials in our neighborhood (Petworth) when my wife, friend and I were assaulted at the metro, in the cover of trees by about 8 to 10 guys. To date there has been no arrest and I have not been provided with an update on the case. There seems to be a pattern here, no?

I am so sorry to hear/read about this...I, too, would encourage people to pay attention to your surroundings at all times, and trust your instincts. And I know ( for many) cell phones are de rigeur -but put all that stuff away when out in the world... I would also encourage women to take the flip flops off when walking home. I know everyone wears them, but if, God forbid, you have to run-well.

Authorities say first reported incident happened on the 1,300 block of Irving Street, NW at approximately 7:45 p.m. Friday when two suspects a robbed a man at gunpoint.

Approximately 15 minutes later, another victim reportedly was assaulted during an attempted robbery on the 1,400 block on Irving Street, NW. Four suspects, one of whom was armed with a gun, approached the victim demanding money.

The victim reported was struck in the head by another suspect before the group fled without taking anything from the victim. There was also another reported robbery on the 1,300 block of Irving Street, NW around 12:40 a.m. Saturday morning, where again two suspects robbed a man at gunpoint.

Also on Saturday, three suspects robbed a man just before 1 a.m. on the 700 block of Irving Street, NW. The victim was told to empty his pockets and the thieves took some money, his credit card, and his military I.D. card.

Meanwhile on Monday night, police say an man was shot in the hand around 10:30 p.m. on 11th Street and Columbia Road, NW during another attempted robbery. Police are also investigating an attempted robbery on the 1,300 block of Kenyon Street, NW just before 11:00 p.m.

Officers say the victim was punched in the head by the suspect after he chased his attacker. Officers say all of these crimes involve young men in their late teens to early 20's, and all targeted men travelling in the neighborhood alone. Police believe the robbers are going after targets of opportunity and not profiling.

"I know these crimes are very disturbing and frightening for residents." Third District Commander Linda Brown said. "We will do everything we can to apprehend these suspects."

Soon we can legally buy guns, and if this happens, it is your fault that you chose not to defend yourself. I am not a gun advocate, but when the time comes, and since I live in this neighborhood, I will get a gun and will use it if I am ever in this position.

While I won't get a handgun myself, I don't believe that the ban in DC does a damn thing. Not when you can buy all the guns you want in Virginny. The only way handgun control might work was if it was national. handguns have been banned in DC since the '70's and gun crimes have gone up, down, up, down, and now up again. The ban has no effect.

The gun ban has little effect on the criminals, sure. But if you think a gun will make YOU safer, you're nuts.

You think a hardened mugger's going to think twice about blowing your head off when you reach for your piece? He's already got it pointed at you, loony toons. Or maybe you were planning on going all Bernard Goetz and shooting someone in the back as they run away from you.

The best way to survive a mugging is to give it up. Your gun will not help you, but it very well may get you killed or landed in prison for homicide.

And... that's exactly the attitude muggers count on, because it makes their lives so easy. The cost of doing business will go way up for them when they're no longer able to assume that potential prey are unarmed and submissive.

Some little fucker just threw a woman to the ground and ran off with her purse at about randolph and new hampshire. He outran about 10 people and a few cars...last I saw him he darted into an alley behind quincy.

Black teenager, braids, dark shorts, red tshirt.

If anyone knows who that kid is, call the cops.

Based on the big mugging, it wouldn't surprise me if this little shit is involved too.

Yesterday evening I saw two MPDC horse-mounted officers walking down Colorado Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets, headed towards 14th. I've never seen that before. Of course, they were headed in the direction of the bus stop where the homicide occurred over the weekend ...

My husband was attacked over the summer (the first weekend of the all hand on deck police thing). He was walking to meet me at the Petworth metro. I had exited and noticed about 10 cops standing around the entrance. He was attacked two blocks away by a group of men. He was hit in the head with a brick, dragged into the alley and kicked and punched after giving up his crappy cellphone and keys. We were in the emergency room all night. The cops were great to watch the house for us. But it just made me angry that there was a group of them standing under bright lights at the metro instead of patrolling the streets surrounding the metro where the robbers are waiting for victims.

Thanks for sharing; I'm glad that he's OK, but feel terrible that it happened to him. I finally took the plunge and delved into WaPo's Local Explorer to check the crime reports, and I have to say I was appalled. I grew up in DC, and still live here, and hate that no amount of street smarts, no amount of precaution will prevent someone from attacking someone else, all for the small prize of a cellphone, a few bucks, a bigger ego and a chance at a trip to jail.